HC Deb 10 March 1999 vol 327 cc284-7W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the outgoing Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights applied for membership of the new Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and how many were successful. [75142]

Mr. Paul Murphy

Nine members of the outgoing Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights applied for a Commissioner post in the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and two were successful.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence on the statutory requirement regarding representatives in section 53 (3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 was put before her relating to the list of candidates submitted to her from which to make the selection of Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioners. [75147]

Mr. Paul Murphy

Of the 154 applicants 23 were interviewed, and the recommendations of the panel were submitted to the Secretary of State. The recommendations took into account the applicants' performance against the key criteria identified for the appointments and the requirements for the Commissioners, as a group, to be representative of the community in Northern Ireland.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who were the members of the interview panels for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and how many names were submitted to herself. [75140]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The panel that interviewed candidates for the Chief Commissioner post was chaired by Mr. J. Pilling and that for the other Commissioners by Mr. W. Jeffrey. The other panel members in both cases were Mr. G. Loughran and Mrs. J. Eve. The panels submitted their recommendations on all of those interviewed, 8 in the case of Chief Commissioner and 23 for Commission members.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for membership of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission were solicited by her Department; how many of these applications were successful; and how many of the members were proposed or endorsed by outside bodies. [75141]

Mr. Paul Murphy

No candidates for Commissioner posts were solicited by the Department. Five candidates were endorsed by the Irish Government; of those, two were successful. All candidates completed the same application form and all were appointed on merit.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what basis she determined that the members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission as a group are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. [75146]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The recommendations of the interview panels were submitted to the Secretary of State. These took into account the applicants' performance against the key criteria identified for the appointment and the requirement for the Commission, as a group, to be representative of the community in Northern Ireland.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission recorded themselves as being or having been members of(a) the SDLP, (b) the Ulster Unionist Party and (c) the Democratic Unionist Party. [75143]

Mr. Paul Murphy

All applicants for the posts of Commissioners were asked to record their political activity over the past 10 years. One member was declared to have been a member of the SDLP, none of the UUP and none of the DUP.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are legally qualified. [75144]

Mr. Paul Murphy

66 per cent. of the members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission hold legal qualifications.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of(a) the applicants for and (b) those appointed to membership of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission were recorded as (a) Protestants, (b) Roman Catholics and (c) neither. [75145]

Mr. Paul Murphy

Of the 154 applicants 47 per cent. were recorded as Protestant, 47 per cent. Catholic and 6 per cent. as neither. The religious background of individual candidates is established for monitoring purposes only. It is not the Government's policy to release the affiliation of each member, but we are satisfied that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many application forms were issued for membership of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; how many were returned completed; and how many candidates were shortlisted and interviewed. [75139]

Mr. Paul Murphy

283 forms were issued, 154 completed and returned and 23 candidates were shortlisted and interviewed.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make it her policy to ensure that members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission display in statements and external public activities the political detachment specified in the job description details provided to applicants for membership of the Commission. [75148]

Mr. Paul Murphy

An extract from the Guidance in Public Appointments in Northern Ireland was included in the information pack for all candidates; it states thatmembers of public bodies should not serve as officers carrying out executive duties in any political party".

Stricter limitations apply to full-time members. This guidance is based upon Government policy.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the human rights commissions were established in(a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the implementation of the human rights section of the Belfast Agreement. [75046]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was established on 1 March 1999. This is the central feature of the additional protections for human rights in Northern Ireland envisaged in the Belfast

Agreement. I understand that the Irish Government are preparing legislation to establish a human rights commission in the Republic of Ireland.